Switch-point protector



7 J. c. PATTERSON El AL V SWiTCH POINT PROTECTOR Filed Feb. 7 ,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY J". c. PATTERSON ET AL SWITCH POINT PROTIEGTQRI May 4 192s. 1,583,307

Filed Feb. 7, 1925 2 Snets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ nrrokmsr excessive pressures.

Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES CLARENCE PATTERSON, or EAST ORANGE, AND JAMES HENRY LYNCH, an, or

' JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

SWITCH-POINT PROTECTOR.

Application filed. February 7, 1925. Serial No. 7,473.

T 0 all whom 2'2? may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES CLARENCE 'PA'r rERsoN and JAMES HENRY LYNCH, J r., citizens of the United States, and residents of East Orange, New Jersey, and Jersey City, New Jersey, in the counties of Essex and Hudson, respectively, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Point Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in switch point protectors for railway switches or turnouts and consists in features of construction and arrangement designed to produce an improved device adapted to be eflicient in eliminating o1 reducing wear and damage to switch points andto have "adequate strength for successfully resisting the severe stresses to whi 11 such a device is subjected. I

In operating to accomplish its object to relieve the. switch point of excessive wear and damage, the'device of our invention is positioned to be engaged by the outer or treadside'surface'of a car or locomotive wheel and is formed whereby such engagement will move the wheel laterally and in the direction of switching a distance suffi cient to be fully clear of endwise engagement with the switch point and to relieve the reduced end portion of the switch point" of A particular feature of our present improvements resides in the per fected form and design of the protector member to be composed of a single piece casting, adapted to be bolted to the running or track rail and to have engagement therewith in a manner whereby the rail will 00- operate therewith in opposing tiltingaction in resistingthe initial shock and severe lateral thrust of the switching action.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of our improved device will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like'reference charac ters'ar'e applied to the corresponding parts inthe severalviews.

Inthe drawings: a w v Fig. 1 is aplan View of a switch assembly showing our improved point protector in position for use. I

Fig. 2 is a detailed cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i a

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of one form of tie plate desirably employed with our improved protector at the portionthereof adjacent to theswitch point.

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. '5 i.' aview in side elevation, illustrating the shortened type of tie'plate employed with our protector at the opposite end thereof.

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

Fig'. 7 is a perspective View of our improved'switchpoint protector,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the device of ourinvention in a modified form. Fig. 9 isa plan view thereof.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the device of Figs. 8 and 9 taken from the inner or rail side. a Y I The improved device of our invention, as illustrated, in Fig. 1 is employed in connection with a split-switch structure and is positioned upon the outer side of the outer main track rail 1,.opposit-e the extreme end or reduced portion of the movable rail or switch point 2. .The switclrstructure, as illustrated, further comprises the opposite movable rail or switch point 3-, suitably connecteclby connecting cross rode, to switch point 2, the opposite mainrail 5, and turnout rails 6 and the latter being continuous with the innervmainrail 5, at the turnout. At 8, there is shown the usual thrust rod or operatingeonnec tion for throwing of the switchvpoints. v I

The switch {point protector of our invention is indicated as a whole by A and consists of a steel casting having a web portion 10, a head portion 11,formed with an upwardly extended deflecting. flange 12, and a base portion 13. head 11, has its upper surface 14 substantially in the horizontal plane ofthe tread surface "of the rail 1, to provide a continua tion of the running surface. The head may desirably be cored out as shown,

The deflectingvflange 1 2, as shown, is positioned atthe outer side of the head portion of the protector member,yextends longitudinally thereof and hasthe' inner surface of-its end portions outwardly flared or .angul'arly contoured at 15 is of a height extending above the rail tread 1,5 and the deflecting flange The main portion of the and spaced laterally with relation thereto'to be engaged by the outer non-flange or tread side surface of a car or locomotive wheel; the spacing and contour of the deflecting flange being such that upon engagement with the non-flange side of the wheel, the flared surfaces will deflect the wheel inwardly, or laterally, a distance sufficient to insure that the wheel flange shall fully clear the extreme end or point of the movable switch points. The protector member may be of suitable length and desirably, as shown, is of a length to extend over and be support ed upon three ties and is positioned whereby its forward flared .or deflecting surface 15 will be slightly in advance of the switch point end whereby the inner point'of its deflecting action'will occur approximately at the theoretical switch point.

For rigidly supporting and securing the protector member in position it is desirably bolted to the rail, as shown, by means of securing bolts 16 fitted to suitable apertures in the web portions of the rail and protector member and having the usual clamping nuts 17 and lock washers'lS. To further con tribute to thesecuring of the protector member, base or tie plates 20 and 21 are employed, underlying the rails and protector member and formed at their inner and outer ends with upwardly extended shoulders 2223, positioned to engage the outer and inner edges of the base flanges of the protector member and track rail, respectively. The base or tie plates are punched and slotted at 26 and 27 to be secured to the tie by the usual spikes whereby the plates co-operate in securing the protector member to the track rail. The tie plates 20 and 21 are generally similar in construction with the difference that the plates 20 which underlie the movable switch points have the shoulders 23 thereof elongated to provide bearing surfaces'for the movable switch points whereas the plates 21 are of relatively shorter length. The protector member is specially formed at the inner side of its base portion for close and spacing engagement with the rail base flangeand isprovided with a longitudinally extending, inwardly directed flange 28 overlying and engaging the upper fishing surface of the rail base flange. The protector member is further formed to have shoulder engagement with the fishing surface of the rail head and for this purpose is provided with an inwardly and longitudinally extending shoulder or rib 30, formed upon the lower and inner side of its head portion, having its upper surface inclined for fishing engagement with the under surface of the rail head. The fishing engagement as'thus provided, is important in its action in opposing tilting movement of the protector or deflecting member under the severe lateral thrust to which it is subjected'by theengagement of the car wheel with the upper portion or deflecting flange thereof. It will be readily understood the engagement of the shoulder 30 is particularly effective in resisting the tilting action in providing for the co-operation therewith of the track rail, which, by reason ofsustaining the load, is particularly effective in resisting this action.

In Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, there is shown a desirable modification in the construction of our improved switch point protecting device possessing features contributing to economical manufacture in addition to a modified form of securing means. The modified structure is generally similar to that first described but wherein the means for engaging the underside of the rail head, in place of being a continuous shoulder extension, comprises a series of spaced shoulder extensions of which five in number are shown and from which there results an economy of metal. The base portion 13 is also modified to effect economy in the weight of metal by having the base flange thereof generally of reduced width and formed with flange extensions 36 positioned to overlie the ties and having spike apertures 37 therein. The inwardly directed base flange is further modified to be non-continuous and is composed of a series of inwardly extending shoulders 38 of shortened length positioned to overlie and engage the track rail base flange. The base portion of the modified protector memher is further formed with a longitudinally extending groove or opening 39, providing clearance for a shoulder 40 integral with a base plate ll of thus modified form having the outwardly positioned shoulder 40 engaging the outer edge of the track rail flange and being further provided with a shoulder or abutment 42 at its outer endportion positioned to be engaged by the outer edge of the base flange of the protector member A.

We have thus produced an improved I switch point protecting device of simple and strong construction adapted successfully to withstand the severe stresses imposed thereon by the engagement of the car or locomotive wheel and which, in its operation, will deflect the wheel in the direction of switching a distance sufficient to clear the extreme end portion of the switch point, thereby relieving the latter of the initial shock and the application switching pressures at the extreme point portion. The flaring of the deflecting flange at each of its end portions provides for noninterference with the trafiic inboth directions and the device is, accordingly, particularly adapted for use in terminal and switching yards where it operates to effect substantial economy as related to the maintenance of switching structures.

As will be understood, other and varied defined in the appended claims.

parting from the scope of the invention as It is, therefore, intended that all matter herein shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. The combination with a main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated with the main rail, of a protector member positioned on the side of said main rail opposite from the movable switch point, said protector tion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending deflecting flange having its inwardly directed surface at its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the non-flange or outer side surface of a wheel for deflecting the latter to clear the end of the switch point and said protector member being provided with an inwardly extending flange or shoulder extension formed to engage the fishing surface at the under side of the main rail head, whereby the latter cooperates therewith in opposing tilting of the protector member and means for securing the protector member in position.

2. A switch point protecting device adapted for use in combination with a main rail and a movable switch pointoperatively associated therewith and to be positioned upon the opposite side of the main rail from the movable switch point, comprising a head portion formed wlth an upwardly and longitudinally extendlng deflecting flange having 1 its inner surface at, its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the non-flange or outer side surface of a wheel for deflecting the latter to clear the end of the switch point, a web portion and a base portion, said base portion being provided with a flange overlying the main rail base flange and said head portion being formed with an inwardly directed flange or shoulder extension formed to engage the fishing surface at the underside of the main rail head whereby the latter co-operates therewith in opposing tilting of the protector member.

3. The combination with a main rail and a movable switchpoint operatively associated therewith, of a protector meniiber positioned on the side of said main rail opposite from the movable switch point, said protector member having its upper portion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending deflecting flange having its inwardly directed surface at its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the non-flange or outer side surface of a wheel to deflect the latter to clear the end of the switch point and said protector member being provided 7 with inwardly directed shoulder portions engaging the fishing surfaces of the main rail and having an outmember having its upper por-- wardly extending base flange and means for securing the protector member in position. i

a. The combination witha main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated therewith, of a protectormember positioned on the side of said main rail opposite from the movable switch point, said protector member having its upper portion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending deflecting flange having its inwardly directed surface at its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be enby the non-flange or outer side surface of a wheel to deflect the latter to clear the end of the switch point and said protector member being provided with inwardly directed shoulder portions engaging the fishing surfaces of the main rail and having an outwardly extending base flange, a tie plate positioned to underlie the main rail and protector member and having the securing shoulder positioned to engage the outer edge of the protector base flange and a securing bolt fitted to apertures in the main rail and protector member.

5. The combination with a main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated therewith, of a protector member positioned on the side of said main rail opposite from the movable switch point, said protector member being composed of a longitudinally cored head member, web portion and a base member, said head member being formed at: its outer edge with anupwardly and longitudinally extending deflecting flange having its inwardly directed surface at its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the non-flange or outer side, surface of a wheel to deflect the latter to clear the end of the switch point and having an inwardly extended shoulder portion engaging the fishing surface at the underside of the rail head, said web portion being apertured to receive securing bolts for clamping the protector to the main rail and said base portion being formed at its inner side to have over-lying engagement with the fishing surface of the main rail base flange.

6. The combination with a main rail and a movable switch point, operatively associated therewith, of a protector member po a. vertical sitioned on the side of said main rail oppo- 7 wardly directed surface at its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the non-flange or outer side surface of a wheel to deflect the latter to clear the end of the switch point and said pro-' tector member being provided with means for engaging the fishing surface of the main rail head portion, saidmeans consisting of flange havlng its 1nnoncontinuous shoulder extensions and means for securing the protector member in position.

7. The combination with a main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated therewith, of a protector member positioned on the side of'said main rail opposite from the movable switch point, said protector member having its upper portion formed with an upwardly and longitudinally extending deflecting flange having its inwardly directed surface at its end portions outwardly flared and positioned to be engaged by the non-flange or outer side sur face of a wheel to deflect the latter to clear the end of the switch point and said protector member being provided with means for engaging the fishing surfaces of the maln rail consisting of a series of separate shoulder extensions, and means for securing the protector member in position.

Signed at Jersey City in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey this 30th day of December A. 1)., 1924.

JAMES CLARENCE PATTERSON.

JAMES HENRY LYNCH, JR. 

